{"id":2102718,"date":"2026-08-19T18:21:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2102718"},"modified":"2026-08-19T18:21:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:21:20","slug":"wetherspoons-bans-customers-playing-music-out-loud-on-phones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2102718","title":{"rendered":"Wetherspoons bans customers playing music out loud on phones"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wetherspoons_beer.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Wetherspoons bans customers playing music out loud on phones<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The pub chain says it will ask staff to use &#8220;common sense&#8221; when enforcing the new rule<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Max Pilley<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-19T19:21:20+01:00\">19th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wetherspoons_beer-696x442.jpg\" alt title=\"Places to Visit: Ireland&apos;s Capital City Dublin\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">The sun shines on a pint of beer as people enjoy a drink in a bar in the city centre on October 31, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Matt Cardy\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Wetherspoons has banned customers from playing music or videos\u00a0out loud\u00a0and taking calls on speakerphones.<\/p>\n<p>The rule will apply to mobile phones,\u00a0tablets\u00a0and other devices at all 792 pubs owned by the chain, with new signs to be put up asking customers to switch devices to silent or to use earphones.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Wetherspoons already has a no-music policy in its pubs, with only the 44 braches that trade under\u00a0the\u00a0Lloyds\u00a0name ever playing music even in the background.<\/p>\n<p>The company has said noise from smartphones and tablets has become an \u201cincreasing problem\u201d in recent years, with customers complaining that they were being driven \u201cnuts\u201d by the sound of other people\u2019s video calls and music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a world dominated by other people\u2019s music and amplified sound, Wetherspoon pubs are an oasis of tranquility and contemplation,\u201d the chain\u2019s founder Tim Martin has said.<\/p>\n<p>Staff will be instructed to use \u201ccommon sense\u201d when applying the new rule, although customers who initially ignore it will not automatically be removed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are not looking to ask anyone to leave a pub if they go against the ruling, but it is an option for managers if they refuse to do so,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>The British Beer and Pub Association has welcomed the move. \u201cWe\u2019re yet to hear of anyone who relishes having a pint against the backdrop of a speakerphone call of someone loudly playing a video, so we expect this move will be greatly welcomed,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p>Research from YouGov in 2025\u00a0found that 79 per cent of British people were bothered by people playing music or videos through their phone speakers.<\/p>\n<p>Wetherspoons has previously faced opposition from musicians over its relationship with live music. In 2013,\u00a0the company\u00a0acquired\u00a0Edinburgh\u2019s Picture House venue and announced plans to convert it into a pub, prompting\u00a0Frank Turner,\u00a0Amanda Palmer, Frightened Rabbit and others to support a campaign for concerts to\u00a0continue on\u00a0the site.<\/p>\n<p>Lucia &amp; The Best Boys, meanwhile,\u00a0told\u00a0<i>NME\u00a0<\/i>in 2018 that they planned to visit a Wetherspoons on every stop on their UK tour, with bassist Chris posting carpet photos on the band\u2019s Instagram along the way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span 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released in July 2026, study reveals<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Fan speaks out after Olivia Rodrigo quietly paid for her final semester of college: \u201cYou didn\u2019t owe me anything. You just chose to show&#8230;<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Wetherspoons has banned customers from playing music or videos\u00a0out loud\u00a0and taking calls on speakerphones.<\/p>\n<p>The rule will apply to mobile phones,\u00a0tablets\u00a0and other devices at all 792 pubs owned by the chain, with new signs to be put up asking customers to switch devices to silent or to use earphones.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Wetherspoons already has a no-music policy in its pubs, with only the 44 braches that trade under\u00a0the\u00a0Lloyds\u00a0name ever playing music even in the background.<\/p>\n<p>The company has said noise from smartphones and tablets has become an \u201cincreasing problem\u201d in recent years, with customers complaining that they were being driven \u201cnuts\u201d by the sound of other people\u2019s video calls and music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a world dominated by other people\u2019s music and amplified sound, Wetherspoon pubs are an oasis of tranquility and contemplation,\u201d the chain\u2019s founder Tim Martin has said.<\/p>\n<p>Staff will be instructed to use \u201ccommon sense\u201d when applying the new rule, although customers who initially ignore it will not automatically be removed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are not looking to ask anyone to leave a pub if they go against the ruling, but it is an option for managers if they refuse to do so,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>The British Beer and Pub Association has welcomed the move. \u201cWe\u2019re yet to hear of anyone who relishes having a pint against the backdrop of a speakerphone call of someone loudly playing a video, so we expect this move will be greatly welcomed,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p>Research from YouGov in 2025\u00a0found that 79 per cent of British people were bothered by people playing music or videos through their phone speakers.<\/p>\n<p>Wetherspoons has previously faced opposition from musicians over its relationship with live music. In 2013,\u00a0the company\u00a0acquired\u00a0Edinburgh\u2019s Picture House venue and announced plans to convert it into a pub, prompting\u00a0Frank Turner,\u00a0Amanda Palmer, Frightened Rabbit and others to support a campaign for concerts to\u00a0continue on\u00a0the site.<\/p>\n<p>Lucia &amp; The Best Boys, meanwhile,\u00a0told\u00a0<i>NME\u00a0<\/i>in 2018 that they planned to visit a Wetherspoons on every stop on their UK tour, with bassist Chris posting carpet photos on the band\u2019s Instagram along the way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/wetherspoons-bans-customers-playing-music-out-loud-on-phones-3963728&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wetherspoons_beer.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Wetherspoons bans customers playing music out loud on phones The pub chain says it will ask staff to use &#8220;common sense&#8221; when enforcing the new rule By Max Pilley 19th August 2026 The sun shines on a pint of beer as people enjoy a drink in a bar in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2102718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2102718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102718\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2102718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2102718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2102718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}